While the 16-year-old accused of wounding Jamal Reid at Golden Grove Secondary School has been released on station bail, Reid’s complications are becoming life-threatening and his family continues to call for justice.
On Thursday November 9th Reid was struck in the head in the school’s compound by another student with a cricket bat. He sustained a fractured skull on the right side of the parietal bone and this was accompanied by internal bleeding as a result of several damaged blood vessels. Severe blood clotting placed pressure on the brain and resulted in swelling.
Reid underwent an emergency surgery for the internal bleeding, blood clotting and fractured skull. The surgery was successful and two tubes were inserted in his head on the left and right sides to filter clots of blood. Two pieces of his skull had to be removed from both sides of his head and it was replaced with skin. “If you are to touch that area of his head you will be touching his brain since there is no bone there,” explained Pheona Carrol who provided a detailed report on Reid’s condition.
Despite the surgery, his condition was listed as critical. On November 14th a CT scan was done because doctors observed a stillness in his hand. Doctors related to the family that as a result of the pressure on the brain, Reid’s condition can worsen. The cerebellum, a part of the brain that is responsible for movements, was partially damaged. Consequently, this tampered with his mobility in some areas of his body. Thus far there has been little to no movement on the left side of Reid’s body.
The limbic system in the brain that is responsible for Reid’s behavioural and emotional responses was damaged. He is unable to empress his emotions effectively, which makes it difficult for the family to differentiate between happiness, sadness and fear.
The family mentioned that the Ministry of Education has been supportive since Reid was hospitalized.
As the family continue to call for justice, they condemned school violence and opined that measures must be implemented to resolve the issue since it can be life threatening in some instances.
Stabroek News was told that the 16-year-old, who allegedly attacked Reid was arrested and placed in police custody for 72 hours.
